Author: Laura Perras

It has been a rough couple of weeks for immigrant communities around the country. Baseless accusations of criminality among immigrant populations has led to unbearable harassment and actual criminality from anti-immigrant forces, with Haitian communities facing horrific vitriol and abuse. But while much of the nation’s attention has been focused on the racist attacks against … Continued

Every year on September 17th, Citizenship Day and Constitution Day remind us of the values that define the United States as a nation. This day commemorates the signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787 and honors those who have become American citizens, reaffirming our national principles of liberty, justice, and democracy. The United States was … Continued

While immigration, and the lives of thousands of families, has proven to be a polarizing issue in the upcoming election, this Tuesday’s presidential debate showed that the national conversation lacks any serious discussion about either facts or policy solutions. The stage was set before the debate when Senator and Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance spread … Continued

The recent changes to the Massachusetts Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system have directly led to a worsening crisis, exemplified by 50 Haitian immigrants, including children and infants, sleeping outside the Wollaston MBTA station in Quincy. These changes, introduced by the Healey Administration at the beginning of August, have drastically limited access to state shelters, forcing … Continued

On Monday, the Biden Administration began accepting applications for the new Parole in Place program that would reduce barriers to a green card for 500,000 people across the country (see MIRA’s Fact Sheet). While the new “Parole in Place” program does not create a new pathway to US citizenship (only Congress can do that), it … Continued

Formal legislative session ends with PPA in limbo The formal legislative session ended last week without House and Senate negotiators reaching agreement on a number of major pending bills – including the economic development bond bill (the Mass Leads Act) that contained Physician Pathway Act legislation, a MIRA priority that enjoyed remarkable progress and support … Continued